Bullet-proof armor



Nam 4 9 1924- 1,513,756

B. SPOONER BULLET PROOF ARMOR Filed March 2'7 1924 INVENTOR y ATTORNEY Patented Nov, 4,1924. v

UNITED TATES v 1,5133% PATENT orriea.

BERNARD SPOONER, O'F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ARMOR CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BULLET-PROOF ARMOR.

Application filed March 27, 1924. Serial No. 702,213.

To all whom it may concern:

1 Be it known that, I BERNARD Srooxnu, a citizen of Austria, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New 6 York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bullet-Proof Armor, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bullet-proof armor adapted for shielding persons and objects subjected to the hazard anddanger of n fire. j

The principa object of the invention is to provide a shield for the body that can be worn under the ordinary outer clothing of an individual in an unobtrusive manner and which is sufficiently light in weight and also flexible as to avoid discomfort and at the same time eifectually protect the wearer from injury due to the impact of a bullet. Another purpose is to produce a shield composed of superposed steel plates, each having an outer cushion surface and so arranged as to present a multiple layered structure secured to a cushion adjacent the body. A further aim is in the provision of fabric covering containing pockets for the armor plates whereby they are held in operative position and not readily liable to disarrangement.

These objects, which also include similarly constructed armor structures applicable to vehicles, cashiers cages, and the like, are accomplished by the novel construction and arrangement .of parts hereafter described and shown in the annexed drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the invention, parts being broken away to disclose the construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the same, drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 1s a diagrammatic sectional view showing the structural features of the 'cas- %igure 4 is a similar view showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 5 is an edge view of 50. plate inserts as corrugated. Figure 6 is a plan view of the same. The armor plate as shown in the drawing consists essentially of a plurality of steel one of the strips 10 representing an oblong rectanglein profile, uniform in thickness and width and of such length as maybe convenient.

These strips are given a spring temper and treated in such manner as to render themrustproof or they may be electro-plated'.

Disposed on the outer sides of each plate are sheets of cork 11 of the same size as the plates, 'act'ing'to prevent noise and the conduction of moisture to the plates.

These plates and sheets are entered into pockets formed of a strong close woven textile fabric 12, each .pocket being complete in-itself, the bight or folded portion 13 extending downward and the upper edges being secured by stitches 14 to the next adjacent pocket, all of which are of unitary construction, made from a single piece of fabric.

The next adjacent lower pocket has its outer member 15 secured by the row of stitches 14 and, extend so that slightly less than one third of, its width is below the laid upon the roof of a building, affording a laminated structure, non-penetrative to an ordinary bullet.

At the back of these pockets and secured by such stitching as may be necessary, is I afelt blanket or ,quilt 16 composed of hair, camels hair being preferred as not readily ignited and because of its pronounced wearing qualities.

This sheet of camel hair felt rests against a sheet of cork ,17 which comprises the inner wall of the structures.

Figure 4 shows a structure in which the pockets 18 are stitched across at their upper ends, as at 19, no flap being used. In all cases the pockets are secured at their ends, after the inserts have been entered, by a row of stitches 20.

On Figures 5 and 6 it is shown that the steel plates may be corrugated to present regular undulations 21, the same obviousl strengthening thev same in lengthwise direction and these corrugated dplates may be the structure is, readily foldab'lei and due to the. resiliency of the elements, may be bent to conform to whatever body it is desired to protect.

It will be understood that the disposition of the cork 'issuch as to prevent glancing or ricocheting of a bullet if fired .at an angle, that the camel hair felt cushion absorbs and reduces shock and that the inner cork lining acts as'a non-conductor for heat, presenting a comfortable feeling.

Although I have described my improvements with considerable detail and with respect to certain. particular, forms of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to such details since many changes and modifications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my inven tion in its broadest aspect.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is a l. A bullet-proof armor: comprising a plurality of textile fabric pockets arranged in overlapping relation, a resilient strip of steel in each pocket, a sheet of cork disposed in intimaterelationtover' each steel strip, and a cushion backing against which,

all of said pockets make contact.

2. A bullet-proof armor comprising a plurality of textile fabric pockets arranged in overlapping relation lengthwise the armor, a noncorrodible sheet of steel in each pocket, a layer of cork superposed on each steel sheet, and a camel hair felt cushion secured to the back of the armor in contact armor, said pockets being formed flOIll :1

single piece ofmaterial, a noncorrodible stee sheet in each pocket, alayer of cork superposed 'on each steel sheet, a felted hair cushion at the back of the armor-incontact ,With all of said pockets, and a cork lining secured exteriorly said cushion.

4. A- bullet-proof armor comprisin a plurality of re atively narrow longitudinal pockets composed of a single piece of textile fabric and articulated at their upper edges to extend partially over pockets adjacently below, a spring steel plate'filling each pocket, a cork sheet overlying each plate, and a sheet of felted hair arranged in intimate contact with the exposed rear sides of said pockets.

' A bullet-proof armor comprisin a plurality of relatively narrow longitudinal pockets composed of textile fabric and articulated at their upper edges to extend partiallyover pockets adjacently below, a

, spring steel plate filling each pocket, a cork sheet overlying each plate, a second cork sheet forming a backing for the armor, and felted hair interposed between the last named cork sheet and said pockets.

6. A bullet-proof armor comprising a pluralityof relatively narrow pockets arranged in triple overlapping relation, said pockets being composed of firm textile fabric and attached at their upper edges, a compound filler in each pocket, said filler consisting of steel and cork plates juxtaposed, the cork plate being outermost, means for securing said plates in position, and a cushion composed of hair overlaid with cork, at the back of said pockets.

In testimony whereof. I have signed my name to this application.

BERNARD SPOON ER. 

